Fujifilm firmware attempts to fix X10 white discs

Fujifilm has released the promised firmware update for its X10 enthusiast compact that aims to reduce the 'white orb' blooming effect that users have complained about. The firmware claims only to reduce, not eliminate, the problem that we'll look at in our forthcoming review. The latest firmware adds a series of extra functions and improves behavior of some existing ones. This includes adding face tracking AF to both stills and video mode and preventing the ISO and dynamic range settings changing when you switch between exposure modes. The update also enables the RAW button to be reconfigured as a function button.

The firmware update Ver.1.03 incorporates the following issues:

1.New function for "RAW" button can be applied by customer's preferenceBy holding down RAW button for approx. 2 second or more, RAW button can be applied into new function similar to "Fn" button setting.

2.Each value set on ISO sensitivity and Dynamic range can be maintained even if aperture setting mode (P / A / S / M) is changed.

3.Face detection function is upgraded to keep tracking face by means of face-tracking AF function. As this function is activated even in movie recording mode, AF on detected face in the movie becomes more effective.

4.Blooming (White disk) phenomena, which can be observed in EXR AUTO mode, is reduced.

5.Compatibility on Mac OS 10.7When the camera is connected to Mac PC on Mac OS 10.7, the camera is effectively recognized. Additionally, compatibility on RAW FILE CONVERTER EX with Mac OS 10.7 has been confirmed.

6.AF confirmation sound was controlled on "SHUTTER VOLUME" in the SET-UP menu. By this update, this sound is controlled on "OPERATION VOL." in the SET-UP menu, just similar to another functions.

7.The image area with high brightness might be recorded as "black-out" area, just in case of dedicated shooting condition, This unpleasant phenomenon is improved.

8.When the flash is used under macro shooting condition, light-reflected area was shown in greenish. This unpleasant phenomenon is improved.

Comments

Hallo Francis, please be objektive and keep your personal emotions. We do not need any radicalism here.

We want a discussion based on facts.

And as long as you do not own the cams you are talking about please avoid to judge them.

We know your opinion. You've told us 1.000 times. It's enough.

The orbs are realy a problem for some of us. But you are too!

And you are right, as you have written in the other article about the same problem there ist "a wide choice out there for guys like you". So please search "out there", out of this forum, as long as you are as agressive as you are.

Thomas

PS.: For all of you that think in a similar way: flag his comments as inappropriate!

Thought this was a forum for grown up persons, however, reading all the responses from persons just shouting in the crowd without knowing what they are talking about, conducted by the Führer Francis Garver, I give up and just wait what Fuji will do.

There is no way one can start a normal discussion overhere, without beeing accused to be paid by Fuji or beeing stupid.

Aparently one is not allowed to vent his own opinion anymore. Thought we live in a free world, but aparenty some folks like the eastern block Tactics: overshouting everyone untill everybody is brainwashed and has no longer his own opinion.

@ rodek @ rodekgripes.com: Sorry you feel so singled out. But this site here is supposed to be NOT about YOU. Really.

Instead, it is supposed to be about the FIRMWARE UPDATE that Fujifilm had released as a version 1.03 firmware patch.

Problem with that one is, it did NOT fix the white orb/white disc defect. Not at all. Which is why folks are fuming about Fujifilm in general, and which is why attorneys and their aides reading the Internet are already dusting off a few class action lawsuits against the company. And deservedly so, IMHO. At least here in the United States, we do not need these foreign scumbag hyena companies dumping their defective wares on the unsuspecting American consumers. Let them sell this junk elsewhere.

So rodek.... do you have any stated opinion about any of this... or do you just like to moan and groan and ramble on, defending Fujifilm and everything they make and sell until their bitter end?

Direct into lightbulb, no orbs. Reading somewhere else owners with this problem having cams starting with serial 21, mine starts with 14G.

Encountered same discussions 9 years ago with S2, later series producing faulty sensors. Everyone was shouting: Crap, all S2 have this problem. I do have one of the earlier serials and this one this still 100% ok after 10 years of use and missuse.

Btw Fuji did that time replace the faulty sensors free of charge. That cam was sold those days for €2600,00.

Reading all the postings I hve the feeling that the majority of the posters do not own a X10, but just like shouting in the crowd.

But I do believe there is an orb problem (maybe with not all the X10) so Fuji shud do something about it very quickly, inorder not to loose customers.

in some shooting situations can occur ORBS: The fact is most bored still. There are no X10, the error does not have. All have the error.Nevertheless, it is "below the line" a very good camera with an innovative EXR sensor.

The error can not be solved by FUJI, not with the built-in sensor in the X10 and the X-S1

I wonder if this orb problem is relating to a certain batch of cams. (Same problem 9 years ago with S2).Maybe users who encountered this problem can mention their serial nr so we can see if its narrowed down to a specific production period.

Btw, I am still not able to produce orbs, so I might be one of the lucky guys

- It gives taste of old-style and is not heavy as X100. It is still just a pocket camera. - very fast! autofocus as a compact camera- easy control with the roller. (I don't like the four way buttons instead of roller) - I really liked the power-on mechanism and manuel zoom. It is robust, fast and intelligent.- I liked the zoomable viewfinder of X10 (I really don't care about the hybrid viewfinder of X100)- It has enough accessories that increase the pleasure of the old style- the extra battery is available and cheap- I am ok with the price against the other retro style cameras. - It will be a great backup camera with my SLR

yes I had the orb thing in some special conditions. Actually it can not prevent me from enjoying in most of cases. Life (and the scenes) flows... I know that it will not be my last compact camera. We will be talking about totally different technologies in one or two years.

Francis, you don’t own the cam but you write against it. What problem do you have? Do you personally have a problem with this cam? I think you don’t, cause you don’t own one.

Which problem do you realy have?

In this forum we want to discuss pros and cons and experiences with a cam. Many of the USERS of the X10 do not have any problem, some do, in some specific situations.

It’s o.k. to discuss that problems. It is also o.k. to be unhappy if somebody has a problem with a cam. It is also o.k. that most of the USERS are happy with the Fuji X10.

I owned al ot of analog and a lot of different digital cams, DSLRs and compacts. And every cam had advantages and everyone had disadvantages. Even the Canon S90 and the Leica D-Lux 3 and my current Pana LX 5 are not realy perfect.

But what is perfect? Who is perfect?

What we need is an objective discussions of pros and cons. And everybody should decide by himself, if he/she can live with this things.

But it is no reason to make a product bad or to write in such an aggressive way you do.

And we do not want to read comments like “I’ve heard that somebody has heard that somebody’s brother has said….” Or “I’ve seen that somebode has seen that someone has got sometimes a problem on pics that somebody has put into the net a certain time ago….”

As long as you do not own a X10 please stop writing comments about this cam.

Thanks

PS.: I know the pros and cons and I will by one in the next weeks. Because it is the fastes compact I have ever had in my hands.

Thank you Thomas! What an annoying person he is... He does not know what he is talking about. I own the X10 and I love it to bits! It takes better pics than my Nikon D200 with some really good glass (like the Nikkor 28-70/2.8) and have not noticed any orbs so far. Congratulations with your new cam! You wil have a lot of fun with it.

A Thomas Traub: Listen, buddy, nobody has to OWN a defective camera just to comment here -- or on any other public forum, as a matter of fact. But even if I did OWN a Fujifilm X10, I would not make it into some sort of bragging rights. No shame, but nothing to be proud of, either, considering the serious quality issue at hand.

Besides, do you even know what article you commenting on? Here is its title: "Fujifilm firmware attempts to fix X10 white discs."

That is correct. Fujifilm had tried to fix it -- but failed to fix it. Heck, how you gonna fix a serious hardware fault with some Houdini magic firmware hack? Cannot be done, and it wasn't done in this case. Just look at the documentary white orb evidence taken with v.1.3 firmware X10s, wow.

@ Eppoh66: if you choice of cameras is only between a D200 and the X10, then I think you had picked the correct one w. the X10. For the rest of us, there is a wider choice out there.

Hey, Thomas: We know YOU are clueless, but look around DP Review about the other articles here about the X10 and now also about the X-S1. This company is going down.... way down. My prediction is that a few clueless fanboys/fangals and their X-Pro1 will not save Fujifilm's raggedy camera division.

I say let them go out of business -- we have plenty of much better alternative camera makers to support. Fuji: stick to making film stock and video lenses.

Now go, screw off into the Fujifilm sunset, you really begin to p*ss me off, Dude. You are -- well, NOTHING.

Good question. For starters, it does not appear so far that ANYBODY likes that particular Fujifilm POS. It is a heckuva lot worse than the already pretty awful X10 is, see? I did not actually ORDER it, truth be told. Only did something like "PRE-ORDERING" it.

Until this morning, I was on the fence. Then I canceled my pre-order, good and proper. Others out there have done the testing for me already, see? Seems that the X-S1 has FIVE MAJOR ISSUES that are know already. Five too many, in other words, dig?

True, if I gave it a good look-through, I could have probably found another 5 nasty bits about it. Come to think of it, maybe I will get one, anyhow. Then return it on the very last possible day -- that would give me 59 days of rent-free camera use. Could write up all sorts of nasty stuff about the X-S1 for a full 2 months!

You gave me a great idea, rodek, thanks! Let me ponder on a bit, Mate.

Thanks, rodek. I'm supposed to be getting my X-S1 on the 28th of this month. Believe it when I see it. I hope it'll pan out, 'cause I really could use that 24-624mm Fujinon zoom optic that it comes with, you know.

The sensor is the same size yet different than what is in the X10 design, or so I was told by a "highly reliable source." So, there is always hope, isn't there?

Anyhow, I would be shooting 95% of the time video clips and taking still for the rest of the time. No orbital problems in video, supposedly, as the exposure times are too short for the phenomena to occur.

Still think u are using ur equipment for the wrong job.Personally i wont use the video on my x10. I do have a hd vid cam able to take 12 mp pics, however I find the pics of bad quality, too much compression, no raw mode.

Well, Panasonic has a great Full-HD video camcorder for you then. It has a huge 1/3-inch size CMOS sensor and cost about $12,000. But admittedly, you can get some 1/3-inch CMOS sensor camcorders for under $5,000 as well.

If you have a little more money to spend, how about $60,000 for the Panasonic 3700. That one has the same size sensor as the X10 and X-S1 have, you know.

Why, just how many you gonna get this week, please let us know. Anxiously awaiting the tally.

Well over 3000 shots with the X10 and about 7 photos ORBSOverall, the X10 is an exceptionally good camera, considering the size of the sensor, a very good camera.The Lowlight Lowlightfähigkeiten in pro-lowlight-mode are awesome (freehand without Staiv ...)

Hi there, rodek. You sort of sound like an a**hole, talking like that and saying others have filthy mouths on them.

Say, you don't work for Fuggi? Really? Heck, that's so funny... neither do I. Nor do most folks voicing their opinions here about at least partially hardware defective Fuggi-cams, I guesstimate.

BTW, in case you did not become aware of this... the X10's latest firmware update did NOTHING to correct the white orb problem. What you gotta say about that little issue, I wonder?

I ordered an X-S1 myself, and will give a thorough testing to it. I have no clue whether it will be a keeper or a returner. But I am pretty sure I would have returned or sold my X10 already if I deemed it to be containing a flawed sensor obviously not fixable by any firmware hack.

rodek sez: "As far as I can see you do not own any cam. Think you never owned a cam or ever took a pic in your life."

Francis sez: And I think you must have died some 5 years ago -- or didn't you get the memo yet?

@ rodek: They are already burying the X10 and the X-S1 Fuji-duds all over DP Review and elsewhere. $600 and $800 are just too much money to spend on aome P&S digital junk. Climb out from under that wet rock where you're hiding and join reality for once in your life, Friend.

@ Eppoh66: Too bad you are blind, in addition to being none too bright as well.

I never claimed I owned the Fujifilm X10 camera. Fortunately for me, eh? But even if I did, I would have returned it or dumped it already.

However, I did state that I was interested in getting the X1-'s sister camera, the X-S1. Of course, not if it should happen to have the same factory defective sensor job than what apparently the X10 has.

@Frances Carver. Seems you're not too bright yourself. I said you did not own the cam so what do you mean by your unpolite remark? I'm just getting sick of seeing your bitter comments after every post on this subject. You're really making a spectacle of yourself. Is there no thread about the X-S1? Maybe you can go there and leave us alone? And reading all your garbage about Fuji I dont understand why you still want to buy the X-S1 anyway. Seems not very smart to me... It's weekend now! So get out of the house with some friends, or maybe, if you don't have any, meet some new friend, have some fun, drink a few beers (only when you're old enough) and lighten up.

@ rodek: How much do you have your Fuji X10 on eBay listed for? Honestly now!

@ Eppoh66: No, I do not "own the cam." Just lucky on my part, I guess. Still, I am willing to give a thorough work-out for 7 to 10 days of the X-S1, the X10's system camera. Hopefully it'll pass muster with flying colors. if not -- back to the reseller she goes. Best to use credit cards anyhow when making these techno purchases these days.

@ ktzuguttenberg: Based on your succinct comment, our demonstrated level of "technical expertise" in all matters of digital photography is most extraordinary. You do know that, right?

No orbs during video, despicable what Fuji is doing using this faulty sensor in both the X10 and the XS-1 the fact that they are silent and trying to get away with it is even worse... 'Made in Japan' indeed...

And now that the Firmware has done nothing to remedy the situation Fuji is VERY quiet... which I think sux! Just fix the sensor in new X10's and replace those in X10's already purchased... if you don't the damage (which is already pretty distinct) to Fuji's reputation is just going to increase exponentially, I wonder if Fuji have seen the Fujifilm forum on this site, its pretty scary at the moment, 90% of threads relate to the Orb issue and people are VERY unhappy!!!

I never jumped into the X10, fortunately, because I would need a much more substantive zooming capabilities for my videos than what the X10's modest lens can provide.

But I am desperately trying to get the X-S1. So far, I had not seen any decent reviews on it.

Saw no evidence of white orbs on the X-S1 camera test video clips parked on You Tube.

But saw plenty of evidence of very slow and unreliable autofocus with the X-S1 in telephoto mode, say anywhere from 150mm to the maximum 624mm.

I guess I will have no choice but to get the X-S1, test the hell out of it for say 10 days, particularly for its video capability and lens zoom/focus feature, and then make a decision whether it is a keeper or a returner. Unless someone else can provide a better suggestion.

I want to be limited by my own knowledge than by equipment that won't let me apply this same knowledge or desire. I want and like take photos at night, I can't because a small $600 sensor fail don't let me take that photos in good conditions? I can't comply with this.

Okay, that's fair. If you don not take night shots of cityscapes and do not take day shots neat water, metal, and definitely nothing on the beach or in snow-capped ski resorts -- then you may not have a big problem with the X10's white orbs/discs showing up unexpectedly in your pix.

"Made in Japan' like that's supposed to mean something...especially in light of the hardware (sensor) defect in the X10, unacceptable on a premium priced compact and Fuji just sit silently by after the bean counters have done their sums... poor ethics and shameful too, Fuji is a disgrace!

Really loving the Fuji x10 from when I first got it, a remarkable camera for the money, it takes beautiful images. The flaring characteristics are unusual in that they are circular, that's it, nothing I see is bad enough to justify all the fuss that's been created.

On the positive side the camera performs as if it had a far bigger sensor inside it, the dynamic range is stellar sand the low light capability impressive - its a beautifully made piece of gear and a joy to use.

The fact that the X10 is priced at a premium price but has a less than premium sensor is unacceptable (orbs and white discs and all manner of UFO's it seems) , at least its coming out in reviews now... http://www.dcresource.com/news/newsitem.php?id=4467 and http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1012&message=40612596

I've taken about 1,000 photos with the x10 since early December 2011. Most recently, using it for an entire week in Kuala Lumpur. I have yet to see the mysterious orb. I'm not saying it doesn't exist, I'm saying -- in my experience -- it's a non-issue. The forums caused me many sleepless nights thinking about whether or not to buy this camera. But, then I realized that if I look at any camera that I have owned in the past, there were always shots where the camera failed me.

The real problem with the x10 is not the existence of the white orbs, but the slow and inaccurate autofocus. One of the reasons I purchased the x10 is for pictures of my new baby and by the time the x10 locks the focus, she's already changed her smile. Yes, I have face recognition on and yes I've tried the Best Frame Capture modes. The autofocus can be a bore at times.

Still, I am in love with this camera and super impressed by the image quality and general handling.

i think it now can be looked at as a fact: the new firmware hasn´t changed anything about the so called orbs!

what i am expecting from dpreview is to publish an honest and unbiased review of the x10 soon, naming strengths & weaknesses. i have no doubt that this will happen. furthermore i hope that dpreview faces some reprasentatives of fujifilm with its and the commnunities findings regarding the infamous wds-problem! in this very case it is not enough to just mention and name the problem, it is necessary to face the manufacturer that obviously they have a serious problem in their design of this so promising litte cam. as serious journalists you plz have to investigate and insist further in this matter!

still not wanting to sell this cam, i just cannot believe that fujifilm is trying to sit the matter out! having (overall: very happily) owned the F10, F11, F30, F200 and S6500 before i just refuse to accept that denying and doing nothing should really be fujifilms´ only reaction!!!

Shame on Fuji for selling a premium compact at a premium price with a less than premium sensor... Fuji should just admit the fault and fix it will do a lot more for their credibility than whats happening now, their reputation is taking a hammering and the longer they ignore it the longer it'll remain in peoples minds... Unlike Sony who admitted to the clicking sound in early 5N's and sent a notice out that they will fix all cameras affected free of charge, again shame on Fuji, any orbs on a $600 compact is unacceptable, poor QC!!!

It will be interesting to see if dpr will fully review this camera. The conditions under which the 'orb' problem appears should be easy to duplicate. But Fuji can also send a cam for review without this problem.

There are many places where once you buy a camera you cannot return it. Here in the Czech Republic you get a state-mandated 2-yr warranty but since Fuji does not admit it's a problem the shop will not take it in for repair even if you bring the evidence.

Judging by the pics I agree that once you get the orb(s) on your cam your cam is no longer a cam and dpr should not review it because of product misrepresentation.

(But if you say all cams have "quirks" and one has to learn to work around them -- take my wife, please :-)

This is clever, OneGuy. Not to mention that in nearby Hungary, this camera costs almost 2x as much as in the USA. No peanuts to throw around, in other words.

There must be a compelling reason why DP review had NOT reviewed this particular Fujifilm X10 camera so far. I seriously doubt they will do it, either.

I am actually looking to get the X-S1 w. the 26x zoom lens that has the same size sensor as the X10, but apparently does not have the orb/disc issue. They probably figured out what it really is and fixed it before shipping the first X-S1 out-- at least I so hope.

Also, even with the X10, when you are shooting VIDEO, the issue is not really perceivable, based on what I've seen.

Iam not going to bother with Fuji anymore, I am sick of tired with this company, people who posted here and said they do not have the problem with Orbs on water especially with wave. reflection at high noon sun are either in denial or worked for Fuji( I know for fact "THE FUJI GUY" monitor website like this one for customer reaction and opinion on their products. I am selling it cheap or trade it for something else just wanted to get this POS out of my sight.

You could be right. But I am now suspecting that maybe they have run off a huge batch of X10s with the defective sensor, and then either (A) did not catch it in Quality Control or (B) caught it and decided to release it, anyhow.

Hopefully the X10s being made TODAY have been "fixed." I am looking to get the X-S1 if it ever hits these shores, I am keeping my fingers crossed that the X-S1 will not have any X10-like hardware issue, although the AF on it seems to be painfully slow in super-tele zoom settings.

I really hope the new X10's are 'fixed' though I doubt it as there are people with week old X10's that have the orb issue... so it seems Fuji don't really give a damn and are happy to keep producing a 'premium' compact at a premium price with less than premium sensor!! shameful...

Maybe there are a set of affected sensors. Fuji should individuate the serials and make a worldwide recall campaign. As this will affect the marketing of future product and the image of the company. Don't feel like "I am lucky you are idiot because you have a defected camera" because it is not solving the problem. The problem is not appearing in "blazing sun" it appears when you use LONG TIME EXPOSURE at low iso with pin-lights. I have no orbs in "blazing sun" either. Even on the sea of the Arabian Gulf (maybe the sea-air is good for the lungs of the X10)

Orbs usually appear when you are taking nighttime photos with artificial lights in the frame, such as street lights, etc.

If YOU don't have this problem with YOUR Fujifilm X10-- well, that is so very good for you. We are mostly talking about the unlucky ones who have been allotted a camera w. the defective sensor. YOU don't have it -- but THEY do, see?

BTW, you do not have to go out of your way and 'create' these orbs/discs, they will appear quite naturally because of the camera's built-in hardware defect. If your camera's sensor is one of the affected ones, no amount of "firmware patch" will fix it, unfortunately.

Seems like Fuji had caught this only after they started selling the X10s. The orbital issue has been supposedly corrected with the X-S1.

Beach front iso 100 to iso 200 F.2 to F.8 sea level with REFLECTION on wave head during high noon or direction sun light on wave. FUJIGUY either you are the few lucky one geta new and improved version of the sensor or you work for Fuji and come here to defend your POS products, please don't lie..........

BTW, came back from Mexico with kids and all the pictures with sunshine on water in the ocean were ruined...all 175 shots BAD! I am PisX.....selling it right away, half price anyone want it contact me!

Jmmg, (I recently took mine on a hotspot vacation & had no problems photographing the sun on the sea etc. so maybe some samples are defective.)You should return the camera to Fuji with samples & ask for a replacement or a repair. -evan

I am not going to bother with Fuji anymore, I am sick of tired with this company, people who posted here and said they do not have the problem with Orbs on water especially with wave. reflection at high noon sun are either in denial or worked for Fuji( I know for fact "THE FUJI GUY" monitor website like this one for customer reaction and opinion on their products. I am selling it cheap or trade it for something else just wanted to get this POS out of my sight. Never ever in the past 25 years for owning any camera gear that PissXX me off this much, Fuji....sayorana....Never trust you or give you one more cent in my life.

Good for you, maybe you are one of those "LUCKY" one that didn't get a defective camera, please do not rube it in... BTW, I do not have any sample to show you due to I was so pissxd after I downloaded the photos that I could use I formatted the card and put it back ina different camera. And the X10 is boxed up for sale or pretty much give away any time soon.

I hate you Fuji, you majorly Sucks! Never again I will ever buy anything from you and I will warn anyone I ever know not to bother with your products.

The whole point in this exchange is to determine if all X-10 sensors show this WOS the same way. If not, then those with a more affected sensor should be able to get Fuji to replace their defective samples with a new one. Keep your image samples next time & take it back to Fuji.

HiI already have version 1.02 installed. I have followed this link to install 1.03. However despite following instructions on the fuji website dowloading version 1.03, my x10 is not installing this version reporting that the version I downloaded (FPUPDATE.DAT) is 1.02. The link clearly says it is 1.03.

The firmware finally installed on my camera after 6 try's. It always came in at 25,887,752 +/- just like bettablues, instead of the 24.6 or 7. Anyways it's done now and I am moving on. My photo galleries are open for public view if you're inclined.

Update: I have found a few more Orbs in my images that I never noticed before. (Now I won't be able to sleep knowing they are there... ;-) )

Seriously, none of these orbs have much impact on the images where they show up. They seem to be rare & somewhat haphazard as to when they show up.

This issue needs some perspective. This is a point & shoot with generally great IQ. It's not perfect but it's pretty darn good, all in all. If I am doing some serious night photography, and going out with a tripod to take long exposure night scenes, I will take my 1DsIII. If this is your only camera, & nightscapes with bright lights are an important part of your repertoire, maybe this is not the camera for you.

On a premium compact one should NOT be getting orbs of any kind... this is not a $200 camera its supposed to be a premium camera and has a premium price, but the sensor seems distinctly less than premium... poor QC from Fuji!! and the fact that they say the orbs are within normal functioning of the sensor is even more of a joke!! not the ethical company I thought they were, at least Sony admitted to the clicking on the 5N as a problem and offered to fix it (new ones dont hav ethe issue). Fuji should be ashamed...

I've only had my X10 for less than a week and I love it!The color out of the camera is as good as it gets. Equal to Olympus IMHO.This this...inane ranting about getting an "orb" if you shoot a bright street light at 20 - 30 seconds at some ridiculously small aperture means the camera is "bad" is silly. I think some of these guys don't even own the camera.Reminds me, you old timers will remember this, putting a lens cap on your Nikon Coolpix 9XX and seeing GASP "DEAD pixels!" and demanding Nikon recall every camera.Sure, you can reproduce the phenomenon if you try hard enough but why?Geez people go shoot some pictures already. If the camera doesn't suit you...send it back!JMHO You may disagree.

People don't have to bend over backwards to 'reproduce the phenomenon' of the nasty white orbs/white discs courtesy of the Fujifilm X-10-cam. Instead, all they need to do is take certain types of pictures -- and voila, the camera will do it and record it for them. Simple, really.

BTW, came back from Mexico with kids and all the pictures with sunshine on water in the ocean were ruined...all 175 shots BAD! I am PisX.....selling it right away, half price anyone want it contact me!

If you are happy with orbs in a $600 compact that's supposed to be a premium product good on you but many like myself think its unacceptable to have a defective sensor is a premium priced product and Fuji should sort it out!!

Hi Francis - re your comments, I looked at the spec for the upcoming Canon G1-X and gave it some thought but decided that the X10 dimensions made it a bit more pocketaalsoble (which it is, and believe it or not, I must admit that the neat retro-style also swayed me a bit!). Seriously though, I seldom print larger than A3 for competition or demo work, most of the time, committing images to disc for AV presentations. Naturally, the Nikon is used for wide angle and telephoto pics. For everyday images I find the X10 gives fairly good definition corner to corner and I enjoy the Fuji inbuilt choices of 'film types' (Velvia, B&W filtered effects, etc) saving a bit on Photoshop time. The X10 fast f2.0/2.8 lens was also very acceptable.

Ok, I'll bite. Since Fuji said they would have a firmware update that would reduce but not eliminate this problem, why would somebody wait past the deadline for returning the camera if they knew what was coming would reduce but not eliminate the problem?

Sorry, my english is not so good....what do you mean? Anyway, just to let know that with this camera you cannot take pictures at low iso on tripod and for several seconds. They should change the sensor in my opinion.

Ok, this one is the same picture taken in Manual with the following settings: ISO 100, f5,0 snd 3 seconds. The menaning is to have less noise, I cannot take a picture with a compact camera of a night landscape at 1600 ISO in order to reduce the white disc. Come on, it's simply ridicoulus.

fpl1966, don't waste your time with these futile suggestions. There is nothing wrong with how you take the shot. The camera is messed up and records these orbs. No amount of "firmware fixing" will remedy the problem. You will either need a new sensor in the same camera, or else a brand new camera with a good sensor.

Lot of people here probably bought the X10 and failed to return it within the allowed time. So, now they try to make the best of it by defending it to death.

Thank you , fpl1966, I wish you the best luck managing the camara. That was a better shot, and the big Orb even looks "better" this way... I was not defending Fuji, btw... promise. FUJI, shame on you !.

No , I am not defending any camera. I have also a G12 and I use it instead of X10. I cannot send it to Fuji because I bought it in Malesya in Kuala Lumpur, and I live in UAE. Se here I don't have any warranty and the warranty it's not accepted by the local distributor (Grand Stores). So I will keep it as is, but this is the last time I buy something from Fuji.

Don't look too good for Fuji here, people. A few romanticizing X10 defenders... but a whole host of realists on the other side. Personally, I am still waiting for the new Fujifilm firmware update that will swap out the defective hardware.

Hi guys. Don't worry, at the end is a compact camera. I will use it as is....good when you are in business attire as its retro' design shines on my Hermes tie :-) ....I would be even worst if this problem would affect a professional camera where you have paid lots of money. I don't have time and patient to fight for this. It's not good, because Fuji should fix it and this issue should not pass like nothing happen. Anyway I suggest not to buy this camera if you plan to take picture nightime with tripod and long exposure times, or use it like a reflex. It is not a Leica, it is not a Nikon D3s nor a 5D mark II. It's just a stylish compact, well built, takes good pictures in most of the occasions, but have big limitations in some situations

Problem is its not one batch, there are guys on the forum that got their X10's last week that have the lovely Orbs... and I LOVE the 'Made in Japan' quip, brilliant, starting to represent the exact opposite of what it should, shame on you Fuji!!

As a happy X-10 owner, I only became aware of this issue through the mention of it in the firmware update notes.

I am a pretty picky user & have been quite delighted with the image quality and handling of this little camera. I have been reviewing my images to try and find examples of this Orb effect but have only found one example of trivial significance in several thousand images - (many with loads of specular highlights that should show this effect).

I have lived through the pain of a defective sensor design. (My D200 had very significant banding & it drove me crazy.) I wonder whether some samples are more affected than others. In my case, the X-10 is a great little camera & nicely complements my SLR's (5D & 1DsIII). I will not be looking for an upgrade anytime soon.

-evan

I should note that I only shoot A-mode RAW and EXR High DR mode - is that why I'm not seeing much of this?

Having been a photographer for some forty years, I've never yet had a camera that has been 'perfect', but having been through the days of wet chemical processing I'm glad I'm living through this digital age of being able to carry around 'a darkroom in my pocket'.

At one time, using a Canon S45 as a backup to my Nikon gear, I had to return two S45's until I got 'a good one' (one of the returned units even had tiny metal filings prevalent behind the front lens element). My current Canon S90 unit has performed quite well, but looking for something new led me to purchasing the Fuji X100. I stuck with it for three days - but felt it had too many quirks and it wasn't exactly a 'fast' shooter.

That's how I ended up with an X10 about a month ago. Tried it and liked it and as yet, found no reason to give up on it. Maybe I've had 'a good one' and will admit that if I need to use it quickly, I put it straight into Auto mode - which has not disappointed!

Okay, so you got the X10 only a month ago -- BEFORE Canon came out with the G1 X, correct? If you had to choose today between the cheap X10 from Fuji or the slightly more expensive G1 X from Canon, which way would you go?

I'm thinking, the zoom lens is about the same (Canon's actually a bit better on paper), and with the 1.5-inch imager Canon G1 X you get an app. 4.2-times area sensor than what you get with the small 2/3-incher X10.

I found this page on Fuji's USA website but no download.http://www.fujifilmusa.com/support/ServiceSupportSoftwareContent.do?dbid=881266&prodcat=234644&sscucatid=664260When you click the link to "instructions" you get "page not found"Anyone know what's going on?

It is probably a limited tactical admission but designed at the same time to obfuscate the problem. The engineer's software release notes would have been heavily censored by Fuji's lawyers. It is all designed to keep people confused and guessing.

Thank you so much, Pasha001. Thanks for finding this smoking gun for the rest of us.

http://fotkidepo.ru/?id=photo:734437

Photo taken w. X10 on 9 February 2012 WITH the v.1.03 firmware update installed. For those who don't even see a problem with this photo -- the Fujifilm X10 is your camera, no doubt, For others -- stay the heck away!

I guess when you have a DEFECTIVE SENSOR in a camera, no amount of "firmware fix" will fix it. Say, your car's engine blew-up. Will a fancy paint job fix that?

Also, it seems like the version 1.03 "firmware fix" has been so successful, on 10 February 2012 Fujifilm had already pulled it?

The travails of this camera (X10) and its sister cam, the X-S1 will probably be written up in business school textbooks soon as case studies.

I see it, but it doesn't effect the types of photos I take. I've taken countless photos with my X10 so far and I've yet to see a single orb. Of course, I don't use it to take night city-scapes, that's what my 5d is for silly.